Tulane University: Executive Director of Industry Partnerships at Gardner Innovation Search Partners in New Orelans, Louisiana

Job Description:

The Executive Director of Industry Partnerships is a member of the Tulane University Innovation Institute (TUII) core leadership team.

• Organization: Tulane University Innovation Institute (TUII)
• Title: Executive Director of Industry Partnerships
• Target range: $140,000-$165,000
• Work environment: On site New Orleans, LA (Hybrid may be considered)
• Visa Sponsorship: US Citizen or Permanent Resident

Job Duties

Following are the key responsibilities of the position:

• Responsible for identifying, developing, and executing a strategy with corporate partners and marketing assets focused on research and economic development.
• Ensure that Tulane research and innovation resources are appropriately applied to achieve growth in the number and quality of corporate research agreements & corporate partnerships while driving relationships with corporations to the highest possible level of a partnership and mutual value achieved in line with University strategic objectives.
• This role is envisioned to be a conduit between Tulane University research and industry, developing relationships that lead to industry sponsored research programs leveraging university expertise and assets while solving industry challenges.
• As a leader in the regional innovation and commercialization ecosystem, the Executive Director will strategically collaborate with leaders of GNO Inc. Tulane Institutes, LED, NSF FUEL, area economic development partners, and others when appropriate.
• Reporting directly to the Chief Innovation & Entrepreneurship Officer, the Executive Director will be expected to develop and maintain a robust portfolio of new and ongoing corporate partners by engaging in strategies to grow and deepen these relationships, with the responsibility and accountability to drive those relationships to productive measured outcomes. They will interact with a broad array of Tulane faculty and staff, organizational units, and key external stakeholders. This individual will be a high-impact collaborator, performance driven, and acutely tuned to making connections that lead to key results.

Position Goals

• Increase the number of new strategic corporate partners working with the School of Science Engineering, School of Medicine, and School of Business as defined by a company engaging the university across multiple levels (e.g., sponsored research, license agreements, capstone projects, workforce development, seminars, equipment use and other engagement strategies).
• Foster new and support existing research partnerships by engaging faculty, research staff and centers/institutes within schools to interface with industry. Broaden and deepen current relationships to achieve measured outcomes to meet strategic objectives and inform innovation goals.
• Manage and report outcomes regularly creating a feedback loop with industry and faculty via CRM/Wellspring ensuring best fit outcomes.
• Responsible for documenting in-depth knowledge base of faculty research expertise in science & engineering, medicine, and business that promotes mutually beneficial partnerships targeted to increase and maintain industry sponsored research, engagement, licensing and startup activity.
• Liaison with all NSF FUEL partners to supporting and leveraging the mission of the engine leading energy transition and decarbonization innovation for the state of LA.
• Responsible for execution of University's overall technology and asset partnering and marketing strategy.
• Negotiate terms of agreements and contracts, when applicable.

Required Qualifications

• Education: Bachelor's Degree; Minimum of 5 years' in relevant, progressively responsible experience in a business development, research, commercialization, external innovation and/or partnership management, contract negotiation role. Strategic thinking, assessment, and analytical skills: ability to link local business capabilities with market needs and trends to identify opportunities for innovations and collaborations.
• Ability to work with diverse constituencies and proven track record with DEIA.
• Demonstrated skills in building positive relationships with senior leaders, managers and employees, and external stakeholders.
• Keen ability to build cross functional and interdisciplinary partnerships and connections with a diverse group of stakeholders.
• Outstanding interpersonal and communication skills with demonstrated ability to express and convey complex ideas.
• Ability to proactively identify potential challenges and make recommendations to solve them.
• Highly self-motivated individual with ability to independently represent TUII and the university at large.
• Keen ability to influence outside authority.

Preferred Qualifications

• Graduate Degree (MBA, Masters or PhD in Business, Finance, Organizational Leadership)
• Background in fundraising from a variety of grant, private, public, institutional sources.
• Understanding of higher education industry
• Collaborative, team-oriented approach
• High degree of self-motivation, energy, persistence, and follow-through.
• Excellent interpersonal, organizational, presentation, and communication skills.
• A positive attitude with high standard of personal integrity and professionalism.
• Commitment to advance the cause of higher education and the mission of Tulane University
• Demonstrated capacity to produce results against established industry metrics.

Essential Functions of the Job

Program Development/Management (Typical Allocation 45%)

• Identify, develop, and execute corporate partnership strategy that integrates a portfolio of approaches including mutually beneficial research, innovation, and workforce development.
• Develop and implement a data-driven strategy for identifying, cultivating, and managing high-value industry partnerships, including a tiered partnership model to effectively engage companies of various sizes and sectors.
• Negotiate and implement contracts/agreements with corporate partners
• Lead the creation and execution of innovative marketing approaches to showcase university research capabilities and technologies in-person, online, and at targeted industry events.
• Manage Business Development Manager to support business development function which includes broader university capabilities as well as technologies and assets.
• Implement and oversee a robust CRM system to track all industry interactions, opportunities, and outcomes, developing comprehensive metrics and KPIs to measure success and impact.
• Create regular reports and dashboards for university leadership and external stakeholders, ensuring seamless information sharing between internal teams (e.g., OIPM, Commercialization Team) and external partners. This includes tracking and reporting outcomes for increased engagement & partnerships, resulting in licensing revenue, sponsored research, etc.

Collaboration (25%)

• Work collaboratively with the Vice President for Research and the Deans to effectively develop and manage high level strategic partnerships for Tulane.
• Collaborate with academic departments, research centers and institutes, and university leadership to align industry engagement strategies with institutional research strengths and strategic priorities, positioning the university as a preferred partner for industry-sponsored research and innovation.
• Work with the Tulane leadership, Faculty and staff, TUII, OIPM, and others to develop engagement strategies that broaden and deepen industry partnerships that lead to key results and impact mutually agreed upon.
• Represent the industry partners' needs and interests to Tulane and support comprehensive communication, provide advice and recommendations to the different units to ensure the companies' interests and Tulane's strategy are a best fit, managed, and enhanced.

Strategic Development (25%)

• Set and achieve ambitious goals for increasing the number and value of industry partnerships, sponsored research agreements, and technology transfers, while developing strategies to diversify revenue streams from industry engagements.
• Leverage federal opportunities and programs to enhance industry/academic partnerships.
• Support faculty and research staff through training and one-on-one guidance to assist them in developing and maintaining industry partnerships.
• Foster the development of new engagement strategies, stay abreast of, and incorporate best practices in the broad domain of academic-industry partnerships. Actively participate in national organizations that have as their mission the development of industry partners for the translation of research (e.g., AUTM, UIDP).
• In partnership with NSF FUEL develop programming and engagement strategies to facilitate retention, recruitment and growth of industry presence at Tulane and within consortium.

Perform other duties as requested or required to support TUII mission (5%)

Universal Performance Standards:

• Completes all assigned duties by established deadlines and in accordance with established or defined protocols, policies, and procedures.
• Apprises supervisor of issues that might impede timely completion of assigned duties and/or departmental projects.
• Exercises sound judgment and discretion at all times and maintains cooperative working relationships with both internal and external constituencies and co-workers.
• Exhibits a willingness to perform other duties as requested or required efficiently and timely.
• Complies with all policies and procedures as stipulated in the Tulane Staff Handbook.

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